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Dr. Rodney Ford M.D.

Dr. Rodney Ford is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist. He was Professor of Pediatrics at the Christchurch School of Medicine. He runs the Children’s Gastroenterology and Allergy Clinic in New Zealand.
He has written a series of 7 books on gluten (www.DrRodneyFord.com).
His main theory is that symptoms from gluten reactions arise from brain and nerve damage.
His latest book is "The Gluten Syndrome" which encapsulates current ideas and concepts of gluten and the harm that it does.

Articles by this Author

The answer to the "oats questions" are becoming clearer. The long-asked question is "Can people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity safely eat oats?" Some people are so sensitive, that even the tiniest bit of gluten makes them feel unwell. So this answer is important because people on a gluten-free diet should not restrict foods unnecessarily.

A concerned mum asked me, "Should I dabble with a gluten-free diet?" Well, that got me thinking. The answer is, "Yes! and no!" Experimentation is part of learning and living. We have to start somewhere in our pursuit of learning about gluten. So dabbling is a good start--but you need a plan, or else you will get nowhere and feel confused.

What an odd thing to say: “Do not mask the appearance of celiac disease.” Inferring that you keep on eating gluten, despite early signs of celiac disease, until you get enough damage to your intestines that it can be seen under a microscope. I totally disagree with this concept—but this is still a common belief of medical practitioners.

The chilling news is that gluten-harm reaches far beyond the concept of celiac disease. Gluten has now been recognized to cause a widespread spectrum of illness, over and above celiac disease. The two questions to answer in this context are:

The Gluten Syndrome refers to the cluster of symptoms that you
experience if you react to gluten. Gluten can affect your gut, your
skin, and your brain. It applies to any reaction that is caused by
gluten. It includes celiac disease, along with the myriad symptoms
that can be experienced throughout your gastro-intestinal tract in
response to gluten. It also includes many other symptoms that do not
stem from your gut. These include brain and behavior disorders,
irritability and tiredness, skin problems, muscular aches and pains and
joint problems.

This question, “how early can you diagnose celiac disease?” is a major concern for both parents and paediatricians. This is because, like many diseases, celiac disease comes on slowly. This means that it can take a long time to make the diagnosis.